by Remez Sasson An effective method for developing and improving these abilities is to perform certain actions or activities, which you would rather avoid doing due to laziness, procrastination, weakness, shyness, etc. By doing something that you do not like doing or are too lazy to do, you overcome your subconscious resistance, train your mind to obey you, strengthen your inner powers and gain inner strength. Muscles get stronger by resisting the power of the barbells. Inner strength is attained by overcoming inner resistance.Remember, strengthening one of these abilities, automatically strengthens the other one.Exercises

You are sitting in a bus or train and an old man or woman, or a pregnant lady walks in. Stand up and give up your seat even if you prefer to stay seated. Do this not just because it is polite, but because you are doing something that you are reluctant to do. In this way you are overcoming the resistance of your body, mind and feelings.

There are dishes in the sink that need washing, and you postpone washing them for later. Get up and wash them now. Do not let your laziness overcome you. When you know that in this way you are developing your will power, and if you are convinced of the importance of will power in your life, it will be easier for you to do whatever you have to do.

You come home tired from work and sit in front of the T.V. because you feel too lazy and tired to go and wash. Do not obey the desire to just sit, but go and have a shower

You may know your body needs some physical exercise, but instead you keep on sitting doing nothing or watching a movie. Get up and walk, run or do some other physical exercise.

Do you like your coffee with sugar? Then for a whole week decide to drink it without sugar. You like to drink three cups of coffee each day? For a week drink only two.

Sometimes, when you want to say something that is not important, decide not to say it.

Don't read some unimportant gossip in the newspaper, even if you want to.

You have a desire to eat something not too healthy. For the sake of the exercise refuse the desire.

If you find yourself thinking unimportant, unnecessary, negative thoughts, try to develop lack of interest in them, by thinking about their futility.

Overcome your laziness. Convince yourself of the importance of what is to be done. Convince your mind that you gain inner strength when you act and do things, in spite of laziness, reluctancy or senseless inner resistance.

Never say that you cannot follow the above exercises, because you certainly can. Be persistent no matter what. Motivate yourself by thinking about of the importance of performing the exercises, and the inner power and strength you will gain.Trying to attempt too many exercises when you are still a beginner, might end in disappointment. It is better to start training yourself through easier exercises at first, and gradually increase the number and difficulty of the exercises. Practice will improve and increase your power, giving you a lot of satisfaction.Most of these exercises can be practiced anywhere, anytime. You do not have to devote special times for them. Believe me, they are very effective. Practicing them enables you to be strong and exercise will power and self-discipline in everything you do. This power would become available whenever needed.If you practice weight lifting, running or doing aerobics, you strengthen your body. When you need to move something heavy, you have the strength for it. By studying French each day, you will be able to talk French when you travel to France. The same thing happens with will power and self-discipline. By strengthening them, they become available whenever they are needed.It is important to remember not to choose exercises that might affect adversely your body or health. Deny and give up what is not necessary, futile or is harmful, but not what is vital for your well being. Always use your reason and common sense, so that you do no damage to yourself.If for the sake of an exercise, you stop doing something that you usually do, and overcome the inner resistance concerning it, you may resume doing it, if it is not harmful. For example, if you love drinking orange juice, and for the sake of an exercise you switch to drinking apple juice, after doing so for some time and after it makes no great difference to you, you may go back to drinking orange juice, if you still like it. The point here is to develop inner strength, not making life difficult for you or continue doing things you don't like to do.Online References:http://www.successconsciousness.com/index_000006.htm

Vividly visualize all the unfortunate incidents which have occurred in your life as a result of your inadequate will. Examine each incident carefully, formulating them clearly and then make a list of them. Allow yourself to be affected by the feelings, which these recollections arouse—shame, dissatisfaction with yourself, regret, and the desire to change.

Visualize the advantages of a stronger will. Examine and formulate all the benefits and satisfactions and write them down. Allow yourself to feel the joy of these benefits, the intense desire to realize them and the strong impulse to begin at once.

Finally, visualize yourself as being possessed of a strong and persistent will. See yourself walking with a firm step, acting in various situations with decision, concentration of effort, persistence and self-control. Visualize yourself successfully attaining the desired ends.

from Will Project Wiki A physical formulation of the Irresistible force paradox: "What happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object?"ObjectiveTo test and increase participants' determination by giving them an impossible task, whereby only one person can meet the objective.MethodThe exercise involves one person running from a start point towards a set goal point (a wall, a marked line, or a placed object such as cone or piece of cloth) a short distance away. Another person will stand in front of the goal and attempt to stop them by tackling, grappling, and restraining them. Rules and protective equipment can be varied depending on the nature of the training. It is possible for there to be one runner and a multiple people trying to stop them, similar to Bullrush, although without the group in the middle choosing who runs - everyone takes a turn.

Person organising the exercise will state the to runner, "You will make it to the other side/goal" and to the person opposing this, "You will stop him/her."

Runner will charge as fast as they can towards the goal, which will be guarded by an opponent or opponents. They will use all means and skills within the rules they have been given, but rely primarily on a singled-minded determination that they will reach their goal. They may use affirmation while running, such as "I will make it", "I will reach my goal", etc.

The person or group attempting to stop the runner will use all means within the rules of the game to stop the runner, such as tackling, grappling, and restraining. As with the runner this person may repeat affirmations, such as "I will stop him/her" etc.

The turn only ends under the following conditions:

the runner reaches the goal

the runner gives up

the runner is successfully restrained for a period of time without being able to move

the runner is dragged back to the starting point (meaning they were unable to continue their forward travel)

Roles are reversed, or the next pair take their turn.

Notes

It is possible to ritualise this exercise more. Both participants can be given time to formulate their goal, visualize it, and essentially 'psyche' themselves up before the run.

Remember though that this is more a rugged physical test of determination than of skill, so a predetermined plan is not necessary.

from Magical PathIntroductionThe following exercise is based on descriptions in two of the Flying Rolls issues by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. The main concept was given by V.H. Soror S.S.D.D. (Florence Farr) in Flying Roll No. II under the heading Three Suggestions on Will Power. Additional comments and suggestions where given by G.H. Frater D.D.C.F. (Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers) in Flying Roll No. VI, and simply entitled Concerning Flying Roll No. II.Method

Sit quietly in a comfortable position.

Close your eyes, and take a few deep breaths, relaxing as you exhale.

Imagine a centre of attraction, slightly above your head, with thoughts radiating out, like rays, in a vast globe.

“To want or desire a thing is the first step in the exercise of Will.”

Get a distinct image of the thing you desire.

Elevate this image to the contemplation of Divine Light at the point slightly above the crown of your head.

Imagine bringing down a ray from this point to the centre of your chest (approximately the location of your heart).

Concentrate all your wandering rays of thought upon this image until you feel it to be one glowing scarlet ball of compacted force.

Project this concentrated force onto the subject you wish to affect.

Take a few moments to bring your attention

Qabalistic SymbolismIn Qabala, the point at the crown of the head is Kether. You may want to make the centre of attraction the actual crown of your head, rather than a point slightly above (see the note below regarding the location of the Sahasrara chakra). You bring down the ray from the Divine Light in Kether to Tiphereth, the heart. This follows the path of Gimel on the Tree of Life.Hindu Yogic and Tantric (Shakta) TraditionsIn Eastern traditions, the centre of attraction at the top of the head is the Sahasrara chakra (thousand petaled lotus). Some sources place the location at the top (crown) of head, while others locate it slightly above the top of the head, as in the exercise above. The point at the centre of the chest is the Anahata chakra, the heart chakra.Both the Sahasrara chakra and Kether relate to the Godhead, an archetypal union with God, often described as the Higher Self (the ‘Divine’ and ‘Highest’ part of your soul / consciousness). Anahata has been described as “following your heart” based on the guidance of your Higher Self.Additional teachings state that kalpa taru (the wish-fulfilling tree) is located here, symbolising your ability to manifest your desires. Compare this with the Indo-European etymology for will, which is said to derive from the root wel-, meaning “to wish.”Source:Florence Farr - Three Suggestions on Will Power (Flying Roll No. II)Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers - Concerning Flying Roll No. II (Flying Roll No. VI)Online References:http://www.magicalpath.net/exercises/cultivation-of-will.htmlhttp://www.paxprofundis.com/wiki/Flying_Roll_IIhttp://www.paxprofundis.com/wiki/Flying_Roll_VI

from ThelemapediaSaying Will is a short ritual practiced by many Thelemites before meals, serving a similar purpose as saying Grace does for many Christians. Its earliest appearance in print is in Aleister Crowley’s novel Moonchild.The ritual of Saying Will is intended to maintain the focus of those who practice it on The Great Work by reminding them that even so mundane an act as eating a meal is an essential part of that Work. In this reminding function, it is similar to the four daily solar adorations of Liber Resh.Expanding on the practice of Saying Will in Book 4 (Ch. XIII, footnote), Crowley writes:

One may also add the inquiry “What is the Great Work?” and answer appropriately, when it seems useful to specify the nature of the Operation in progress at the time. The point is to seize every occasion of bringing every available force to bear upon the objective of the assault. It does not matter what the force is (by any standard of judgment) so long as it plays its proper part in securing the success of the general purpose.

On a more esoteric level, comparison may be made to a tenet of the Creed of the Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica: “And forasmuch as meat and drink are transmuted in us daily into spiritual substance, I believe in the miracle of the Mass.”There are several variant forms of this ritual. In the simplest and most common, the leader begins, the participants call out the questions, and the leader provides the answers and closes. This form is suitable for use even when the participants are unfamiliar with the ritual. The type of knock used and wording may be varied according to local custom or particular purposes.The Common Form

Leader: (knocks 3-5-3) Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

All: What is thy will?

Leader: It is my will to eat and to drink.

All: To what end?

Leader: That I may fortify my body thereby.

All: To what end?

Leader: That I may accomplish the Great Work.

All: Love is the law, love under will.

Leader: (knocks once) Fall to!

An Alternate MethodWhen all present are familiar with the ritual, it is possible to have the leader ask the questions and the participants give the answers: